MEREDITH MALFOY
"Don't ever say that. You didn't deserve it." he said. His voice was low and his eyes were dark. He stared at me and I nodded. All of the sudden, I felt his lips on mine. He tangled his hands in my hair and pulled me closer to him. My hands went to his neck and I ran my fingers through his hair. Then I realized what was happening and I pulled away. I looked at him in shock and I stood up quickly. "I'm sorry- I didn't- I'm sorry-" I stammered. I started to leave and he grabbed my wrist. "Meredith," he said. "I'm sorry, Harry." I said quietly. Then I rushed away.
When I got back to my dorm, my friends were still there waiting for me. "Did you tell him?" Draco asked. I nodded as I sat down. "We're going to Azkaban," Blaise mumbled. "No, you aren't. I told him the truth. And the truth is that you saved me. You sacrificed yourselves for me. That's what happened, you did nothing wrong." I said. "It doesn't feel like that," Theo said. I looked at him. "You were tied down and crying. So no, I don't believe you when you say I did nothing wrong." Theo said sharply. "Theo, please." I said quietly. "He's right, Mere. You told us it was ok, but I still remember the look in your eyes. The fear." Blaise said. "Stop," I said quietly. " I remember after it happened, you threw up. You were so disgusted you threw up." Theo added. "Shut up! Just shut up! Stop talking about it! I don't want to talk about it!" I yelled. Their faces fell. "The only person I blame is Voldemort. And the only thing that makes it worse is you guys blaming yourselves for it. So can we please stop?" I said. They nodded. "I'm sorry, Mere. Everyone's just on edge. The boys didn't mean to upset you." Pansy said. "I'm fine, really. I just don't want us to fight." I said. "Me either," Draco added. I nodded. "Do you guys want to sleep here tonight?" I asked. They smiled. "Slumber party?" Blaise said with a laugh. "Just like when we were kids," Theo said. We all laid throughout my room and talked and laughed and joked until we fell asleep. I felt a weight lifted. We had never talked about that summer, about what happened. Now that we did, I feel better. Now I have to worry about Harry.
1 WEEK LATER
"There's a party tonight and we are going!" Pansy said excitedly. She sat down next to me in Potions and I looked at her with doubt. "You have fun, Pans. I'm sick." I said giving a fake cough. I didn't want to go to a party. It's been hard enough avoiding Harry, this will make it impossible. She rolled her eyes. "Nope. No way. We haven't gone to a party- hell, we haven't done anything normal kids do in forever." she said. I looked down and started on my notes. "We deserve to have fun. We fought in a war, we watched people die, we didn't have a childhood. I think we deserve a night of fun." she said. "You deserve a night of fun. You didn't do anything wrong. The only reason I'm not in Azkaban is because Potter-" I started. She looked at me strangely. "The only reason I'm not dead or in Azkaban is because Potter is too good of a person to make me suffer even when I deserve it." I said.
"Mere, come on." she said. I shook my head. "You are coming. I won't let you sit in your room punishing yourself for your past mistakes. Ok? We all have our crosses to bear. Take me for example, I'll never be loved again. What guy is going to want a girl with a gimp leg? Nobody." she said. "That's not true, Pans. You are so much more than your looks." I said. "And you are so much more than the mark on your arm. Now get excited for the party. Because I can't dance unless you help me so you don't have a choice," she said. I chuckled. "Fine," I said. She smiled. "Good, I already picked out your outfit." she said smugly. "Of course you did," I said. Potions class ended and everyone was cleaning up their stations. I was walking by Ron and Harry's station when Ron casually tipped his jar of water over and the glass shattered and the water spilled everywhere. I flinched and stepped back.
"Shocker, the death eater causing more trouble," he said. Everyone stared at me and Draco came to my side. "Ron, what the hell?" Harry whispered. "I'm sorry. I- I didn't-" I started. "Of course you're sorry. You're responsible for the death and destruction of our world but you just say sorry and that makes it all better, right?" he spat. "Ron, knock it off." Harry spat. "I'm sorry, Ron. Please, I really am." I said. "She didn't even do anything. You knocked the jar over." Pansy snapped. He scoffed. "Why don't you clean up your mess for once? Get on your knees for someone other than Voldemort," he spat. My face fell and my cheeks burned with shame. "Ron, that's enough," Harry said. Draco stepped toward him and he was seething. "Wealsey, you need to back off-" Draco started. I grabbed his arm and pulled him back. "Don't. Just leave it. He's angry and he has every right to be." I said quietly. I got on my knees and cleaned up the glass and water and Ron sat there smugly. Then I stood up and walked out, fighting back tears. I deserved that though. His brother is dead and it's my fault. I deserved it.
